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What Makes MJHS Hospice & Palliative Care Different?

MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care has been at the forefront in developing new models of palliative care. Responding to the complexity that exists in health care today, as well as the varied needs of patients and families, MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care has developed models that deliver high-quality palliative care in the community as well as in hospitals. MJHS is leading the way through innovative palliative care programs:

Interdisciplinary, “High-Touch” Model: Developed in partnership with managed care organizations, this model provides individualized care plans for homebound patients with advanced illnesses and complex needs. The plan may include home visits by a physician or nurse practitioner, visits by a social worker, telephonic support by a registered nurse, and access to a 24/7 on-call system. The goals are to help manage symptoms, provide psychological support for the patient and family, coordinate care, help the patient and family communicate their preferences and goals for treatment, and ensure that advance care planning is in place.

Acute Palliative Care Community Initiative: To assist a larger number of patients and families, MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care offers a brief consultation model for patients at home. In one or two visits, a specialist in palliative care performs a comprehensive assessment, the goals of which are to help the primary care physician develop a plan to treat symptoms and other programs; offer information and referrals to community services, including home hospice; and discuss goals of care and how best to communicate them.

Early Intervention Nursing Home Model: Addressing the need for specialist palliative care in nursing homes, this model screens nursing home admissions to determine whether there is an unmet need for specialist level palliative care. Based on this screening, patients may be scheduled for monthly re-screening, for palliative care consultation, or for consultation plus interaction with the hospice access team to facilitate hospice discussions and enrollment.

Hospital Consultative Service: To provide access to a palliative care consultation program within small hospitals, MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care has fostered relationships with two hospitals in Brooklyn, New York. In one case, the program also provides education and help with policies and procedures.

Emergency Department Resource Program: Offering an innovative approach to improving the care of patients with advanced illness when they appear in the Emergency Department, MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care has collaborated with MJHS Home Care to develop a nurse-led model that can facilitate referral to palliative care or hospice programs. This model has been successfully implemented in a busy emergency department in Brooklyn.

MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care is a New York-based not-for-profit organization. It is an affiliated agency of MJHS, the integrated health system, founded by the Four Brooklyn Ladies in 1907. MJHS Hospice and Palliative care includes a certified hospice agency and a large palliative care program serving patients in four boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens) as well as Nassau County.